In our ancestor’s day communities would come together to support new farmers with a “barnraising”. Times have changed, but the need for community support of new farmers has not. That’s why we are asking you, our community, to support us in growing our farm operation.

We, Chris & Tamara Johnson, have worked hard the last six years to establish Johnson Family Pastures , our sustainable farm business - building fence, improving pasture, raising livestock humanely, and establishing a strong market for our Grassfed & Pasture-Raised meat. All while RENTING land!

We are ready to not just be farmers but Farmland Owners! Serendipitously, the landowners of one of the farms we rent - the Frederic Farm, where our animals graze in the summer - found themselves ready to pass their farm onto us, a family farm who would steward their land.

However in order to move and establish our year-round farm operation at the Frederic Farm we need additional funds! Donate any amount today so that we can:

· Raise MORE Grassfed & Pastured meat, humanely & sustainably· Get the food we raise to you more efficiently· Establish the long-term success of our family farm

The idea and much of the prep-work for this FarmRaiser began long before we knew the COVID-19 pandemic was to affect our country, community, way-of-life. For a while we were unsure how or if to proceed. The connection between us farmers and our community of eaters has deepened in the wake of the uncertainty. With shortages in the food supply chains, we find it more important than ever to move forward with our plans to grow our family farm business and to continue to offer our community farm supporters a trustworthy source of 100% Grassfed & Pasture-Raised meat.

In Gratitude,Chris, Tamara, the kids, & the livestock ofJohnson Family Pastures

What We Need & What It’ll Support

We are asking for your financial support for two separate farm projects that will allow us to raise more meat and get it to you more efficiently.

Project #1 – Farrow to Finish Pasture-Raised Pigs:Pigs born on our farm will be the healthiest and most financially sustainable way for our farm to grow our pasture-raised pork operation.

For the last five years we’ve been buying piglets from other farms, and raising them up at our farm ‘til harvest. The problem is we were never able to find enough healthy pigs to produce enough pork and meet our customer’s demands.

Now that we are able to purchase our farm we can establish a “Farrow to Finish” operation. We’ve found financing for and have begun constructing a farrowing barn. This is a space where our sows can humanely - no gestation crates - give birth to piglets in a group. We have also acquired funding and begun installing waterlines and fence for the pigs summer pastures.

Your donation will be put towards the cost of purchasing the seven sows (mama pigs) and two boars (papa pigs), and will alleviate us from having to take on any further debt this year - because you know we are buying the farm!

Weaned pigs will be raised on the pastures of the Frederic Farm. These pastures are bordered by mature-oak woods, which we will be actively managing for oak regeneration. Get excited about acorn-finished folks!

Project #2 – Frozen Meat Storage & Delivery Center:Upgrading our cold storage and delivery vehicles in order to efficiently store and deliver the greater quantities of meat that we are raising.

Our farm members have seen the old rusty “delivery” van (that regularly needs a jump), the U-haul trailers, the dozens of used chest freezers, the repeat lifting of heavy boxes. We’ve been frugal and we’ve made it work, but if we farmers are going to have backs healthy enough to be delivering meat to you in years to come, we need to upgrade our equipment.

At the farm we are purchasing there is a newer insulated steel building that we will be converting into farmer Tamara’s “Meat-Shed”. This fundraiser will cover 50% of the cost of:

The total purchase of these items is greater than what we are asking for in the fundraiser. We have approximately 50% of the funds available in our farm’s budget for capital purchases.

The Impact

Your financial contribution of any amount will help reduce the amount of financial debt that our farm, Johnson Family Pastures, takes on in 2020. It will allow us to:

· purchase our farmland· move our family and farm operation· invest in essential infrastructure to grow our family farm business

Your donation will help us to raise more animals humanely and to offer your household good meat for decades to come.

As one customer put it, “it’s easier to get Packer’s tickets at Lambeau in the next decade than it is to get one of your chicken shares”. Get ready to see those “sold out” signs on our order forms go away, as we grow our farm business and are able to raise more meat for you!

Other Ways You Can Help

We get it, some people just can't contribute. There are other ways to help:

· Please get the word out and make some noise about our FarmRaiser· Talk about our FarmRaiser· Email it to friends and family· Share it on social media· If you know someone looking for good meat – refer them to our farm!· "Round up" for the FarmRaiser on purchases of meat from our family farm.